WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.960 Welcome, Deep Divers. Today, we're really setting 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:06.740 out to uncover the many, many layers of someone 00:00:06.740 --> 00:00:09.419 who's just consistently shaped American comedy 00:00:09.419 --> 00:00:12.580 and social commentary, too. Right. Across decades, 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:14.320 across different platforms. He's kind of everywhere 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:17.179 when you look. Exactly. From behind the scenes, 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:19.579 crafting these iconic TV shows to being right 00:00:19.579 --> 00:00:21.640 out front, grabbing audiences with that sharp 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:26.399 wit. We are talking about the truly prolific 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:29.539 Alistair Larry Wilmore III. Larry Wilmore. So 00:00:29.539 --> 00:00:31.859 our mission today really is to kind of distill 00:00:31.859 --> 00:00:34.619 the essence of his incredible career. It's so 00:00:34.619 --> 00:00:37.500 multifaceted. we're pulling from a really detailed 00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:40.000 biographical account, a source that gives us 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.460 this rich picture of his life and work. The deep 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:44.719 source. He'll trace his path from those early 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:47.060 years through being this influential writer, 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:49.820 producer, comedian, host, and really dig into 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:52.119 that unique perspective he brings, especially 00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:54.899 around American politics, African -American culture, 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:57.659 pop culture. It's more than just comedy. It is. 00:00:57.740 --> 00:01:00.020 It's like he's this profound cultural observer 00:01:00.020 --> 00:01:02.179 wrapped in a comedian's package. That's a great 00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:06.319 way to put it. And what makes his career so, 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:08.680 so compelling and what we really want to get 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:11.939 into today is just how he takes all these different 00:01:11.939 --> 00:01:14.840 experiences, personal, professional, cultural. 00:01:15.780 --> 00:01:19.159 and synthesizes them into stuff that's genuinely 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:21.879 hilarious, but also really insightful. We're 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:24.640 not just going to list his resume. We need to 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:27.500 look beyond that public face, understand the 00:01:27.500 --> 00:01:29.780 currents underneath, the themes that keep popping 00:01:29.780 --> 00:01:32.640 up in his very long career, peeling back the 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:35.340 layers, sort of. To get at that core comedic 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:38.359 philosophy. Exactly. What makes him tick, comedically 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:41.739 speaking. And for you, listening in, think of 00:01:41.739 --> 00:01:46.099 this deep dive as kind of a shortcut. It's a 00:01:46.099 --> 00:01:49.040 chance to get a really rich, nuanced understanding 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:51.359 of how one person can make such a mark on so 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:53.180 many different parts of media. Yeah, it's impressive. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:54.980 You'll find out how his own story, especially 00:01:54.980 --> 00:01:56.980 being the self -proclaimed nerd from Pomona, 00:01:57.480 --> 00:01:59.659 actually became this key part of his voice, that 00:01:59.659 --> 00:02:02.060 unique sound he has. That nerd thing is fascinating. 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:04.739 Totally. By the time we're done, you'll have, 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:07.659 I think, a much deeper feel for how American 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:10.020 comedy and social commentary have evolved over, 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:13.259 what, the last four decades? And Wilmore's crucial 00:02:13.259 --> 00:02:14.900 role in that. Yeah, he's been right in the think 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:17.900 of it. So, okay, let's unpack this. Larry Wilmore 00:02:17.900 --> 00:02:22.860 story. It really is this amazing weave of, like, 00:02:22.979 --> 00:02:25.379 behind the scenes genius and front and center 00:02:25.379 --> 00:02:27.280 charisma. Let's start right at the beginning. 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:30.520 Because his early life, well, it offers some 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:32.819 genuinely insightful clues about the kind of 00:02:32.830 --> 00:02:34.990 creative person he'd become. The Roots, yeah. 00:02:35.050 --> 00:02:37.870 The Lister Larry Wilmore III, born in LA, October 00:02:37.870 --> 00:02:42.030 30, 1961. But he grew up mostly in suburban Pomona, 00:02:42.030 --> 00:02:44.710 California. Pomona, okay. Pomona. Yeah. Maybe 00:02:44.710 --> 00:02:46.469 not the first place you think of as a comedy 00:02:46.469 --> 00:02:48.370 incubator. Right. But it was definitely the setting 00:02:48.370 --> 00:02:50.550 for his unique view of the world. His family 00:02:50.550 --> 00:02:53.129 came from Evanston, Illinois, originally. Oh, 00:02:53.169 --> 00:02:55.069 interesting. Midwest Roots. Yeah. Settled in 00:02:55.069 --> 00:02:57.620 Pomona. And he was raised Catholic, the third 00:02:57.620 --> 00:03:01.639 of six kids. Six kids, wow. Can you imagine the 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:03.639 daily life in that house? It's like a constant 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:06.319 master class in watching people negotiating. 00:03:06.590 --> 00:03:09.150 Oh, absolutely. And growing up Catholic, one 00:03:09.150 --> 00:03:12.650 of six, you can really see how that kind of environment 00:03:12.650 --> 00:03:15.969 just sharpens your observation skills. You're 00:03:15.969 --> 00:03:17.849 constantly navigating people, right? Totally. 00:03:18.349 --> 00:03:20.629 Subtle cues, the sort of moral frameworks, the 00:03:20.629 --> 00:03:23.210 cultural stuff that shapes a community. It often 00:03:23.210 --> 00:03:25.509 makes people really good at seeing the humor 00:03:25.509 --> 00:03:28.509 and maybe the hypocrisy in everyday life. Which 00:03:28.509 --> 00:03:30.889 is fueled for a comedian. Exactly, vital fuel 00:03:30.889 --> 00:03:33.810 for a comedian, a satirist. It probably gave 00:03:33.810 --> 00:03:35.990 him this really rich inner world to draw from 00:03:35.990 --> 00:03:38.830 for his specific kind of humor, the kind that 00:03:38.830 --> 00:03:41.750 often looks at how people interact, the unspoken 00:03:41.750 --> 00:03:44.050 rules. That foundation, that cultural background. 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:46.840 You think that's key to how he understands cultural 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:49.300 dynamics later? I think it has to be, that communal, 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:51.979 culturally -specific upbringing. It feels like 00:03:51.979 --> 00:03:54.340 the bedrock for the nuanced way he'd later weave 00:03:54.340 --> 00:03:56.840 culture into his comedy. And speaking of nuance, 00:03:57.620 --> 00:03:59.060 maybe one of the most surprising things, and 00:03:59.060 --> 00:04:01.539 I think really important for you listening, is 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:05.080 his whole self -proclaimed nerd identity as a 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:07.340 kid. Right. Not the usual comic origin story. 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:09.560 Not at all. He wasn't just kind of interested 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:14.169 in brainy stuff. He was deep into science. magic, 00:04:14.810 --> 00:04:17.670 sci -fi, fantasy. Like full on geek culture. 00:04:17.790 --> 00:04:20.610 Totally. You got to picture this. The guy who'd 00:04:20.610 --> 00:04:23.550 become the senior black correspondent, challenging 00:04:23.550 --> 00:04:26.629 ideas about race and power, spending his childhood 00:04:26.629 --> 00:04:29.970 casting imaginary spells or exploring alien worlds 00:04:29.970 --> 00:04:32.550 in his head. It really messes with your expectations, 00:04:32.629 --> 00:04:34.389 doesn't it? It absolutely does. It just shows 00:04:34.389 --> 00:04:36.430 the complexity there right from the start. And 00:04:36.430 --> 00:04:39.470 that nerd thing, it isn't just a fun fact. It's 00:04:39.470 --> 00:04:41.930 actually pretty pivotal in shaping his comedic 00:04:41.930 --> 00:04:44.589 voice. He talked about this himself. I think 00:04:44.589 --> 00:04:47.310 it was on NPR. Oh, yeah? Yeah, he described being 00:04:47.310 --> 00:04:51.509 a nerd and black. And he pointed out how traditionally 00:04:51.509 --> 00:04:53.990 the black comic figure was often expected to 00:04:53.990 --> 00:04:57.430 have this certain kind of... bravado maybe, strength. 00:04:57.589 --> 00:04:59.050 Yeah, that sort of performative masculinity. 00:04:59.389 --> 00:05:02.069 Exactly. Rooted in what society kind of expected, 00:05:02.709 --> 00:05:05.509 Wilmore embracing his intellectual, maybe more 00:05:05.509 --> 00:05:08.449 introverted nerd side. That was a real shift, 00:05:08.550 --> 00:05:11.110 a significant one. So it wasn't rejecting his 00:05:11.110 --> 00:05:14.370 identity, but expanding it. Precisely. Expanding 00:05:14.370 --> 00:05:16.589 what black identity could look like in comedy. 00:05:17.230 --> 00:05:20.189 This figure, comfortable being smart, observational, 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:23.459 It opened up space for different kinds of voices, 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:26.000 different perspectives within African American 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:28.480 comedy. More introspective, maybe. Analytical. 00:05:28.699 --> 00:05:31.120 Yeah, maybe less overtly performative humor could 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:34.360 come forward. Reflecting a wider range of experiences, 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:37.040 you know? Being able to critique and satirize 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:39.639 without always needing to shout. That intellectual 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:42.120 distance, it became like a comedic superpower 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:44.019 for him. Like dissecting things with a scalpel 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:46.350 instead of a hammer. That's a good analogy. The 00:05:46.350 --> 00:05:48.709 precision of a scientist applied to cultural 00:05:48.709 --> 00:05:51.470 absurdities. So after that intellectually packed 00:05:51.470 --> 00:05:54.050 childhood, he graduates from Damien High School 00:05:54.050 --> 00:05:57.129 in Laverne back in 79, then heads off to Cal 00:05:57.129 --> 00:06:00.230 Poly Pomona studying theater arts. So the performance 00:06:00.230 --> 00:06:02.689 bug a bit early. Clearly. But you know how it 00:06:02.689 --> 00:06:05.649 goes with creative types? Academia wasn't the 00:06:05.649 --> 00:06:08.029 final stop. He eventually dropped out, made that 00:06:08.029 --> 00:06:10.269 big pivot. Towards chasing his passions. Yeah. 00:06:10.490 --> 00:06:13.550 Acting and standup comedy. Oh, OK. Took the leap. 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:16.100 Yeah, that early dedication, that willingness 00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:19.120 to just go for it. It really shows this clear 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:21.879 commitment to entertainment pretty young. He 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:23.819 was ready for that unpredictable world. It wasn't 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:26.579 just a side thing. It was like his calling. He 00:06:26.579 --> 00:06:28.980 knew what he wanted. It seems like it. And from 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:31.379 those formative years where he's developing this 00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:34.079 unique way of seeing things, his ambition starts 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:36.860 turning into actual work pretty quickly. His 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:38.560 first steps into the industry, this is back in 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:43.029 the 80s, were small roles, film. TV acting gigs. 00:06:43.350 --> 00:06:46.649 Paying the dues. Totally. One notable early one 00:06:46.649 --> 00:06:48.870 though that gave him exposure to how TV gets 00:06:48.870 --> 00:06:51.970 made was a recurring part as a cop on the facts 00:06:51.970 --> 00:06:54.480 of life. The facts of life. OK, I remember that. 00:06:54.660 --> 00:06:56.800 Right. So these small acting jobs, they were 00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:58.660 like an apprenticeship. Yeah. Learning the rhythm 00:06:58.660 --> 00:07:01.600 of a TV set from the inside. And what's really 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:04.139 interesting there is how quickly he moved from 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:06.420 being in front of the camera to actually writing. 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:10.420 That suggests a real drive to shape the story, 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:13.699 not just deliver lines. Good point. So early 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:16.060 to mid 90s, he starts making moves on writing 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:18.209 staffs. for really different kinds of shows, 00:07:18.610 --> 00:07:21.310 too. He wrote for the talk show, Into the Night 00:07:21.310 --> 00:07:23.689 with Rick Dees. Talk show writing, that's a different 00:07:23.689 --> 00:07:25.889 skill set. Quick jokes, topical stuff. Totally 00:07:25.889 --> 00:07:29.009 different muscle. But then, he moves to In Living 00:07:29.009 --> 00:07:32.170 Color. Whoa! Okay, In Living Color was huge. 00:07:32.509 --> 00:07:35.269 Game -changing sketch comedy. Absolutely massive. 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:38.839 pushed boundaries, launched careers. And here's 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:41.339 a cool family connection. His younger brother, 00:07:41.579 --> 00:07:44.660 Mark Wilmore. No way. Yeah, Mark was also a writer 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:47.540 on In Living Color and even became a cast member. 00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:49.879 Talent runs in the family, clearly. Seems so. 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:52.920 So this early exposure talk show's sketch comedy. 00:07:53.290 --> 00:07:56.189 It gave him this incredibly solid training ground 00:07:56.189 --> 00:07:58.930 for the super versatile career he ended up having. 00:07:59.250 --> 00:08:01.370 Learning to adapt his comedy style. Exactly. 00:08:01.470 --> 00:08:03.529 Pivot his sensibility for different formats, 00:08:03.589 --> 00:08:05.870 but still keep his own voice. And that grounding 00:08:05.870 --> 00:08:08.230 in comedy storytelling, especially for a wide 00:08:08.230 --> 00:08:10.709 audience, just got deeper and deeper through 00:08:10.709 --> 00:08:13.569 the 90s. He became this like go to writer and 00:08:13.569 --> 00:08:15.569 producer for a whole string of really popular 00:08:15.569 --> 00:08:18.029 black sitcoms. Yeah. Shows that were big deals 00:08:18.029 --> 00:08:20.870 culturally, not just ratings wise. Right. Shows 00:08:20.870 --> 00:08:23.399 that defined a generation for a lot. of people. 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:27.220 Sister, sister. Classic. He even did a little 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:29.379 cameo as a bus driver in one episode, which is 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:31.720 fun. Huh, didn't know that. The Fresh Prince 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:35.440 of Bel -Air. Global phenomenon still is. And 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:38.330 the Jamie Foxx show. Right, showcasing Jamie 00:08:38.330 --> 00:08:41.470 Foxx early on. These were all really visible, 00:08:41.830 --> 00:08:44.710 culturally important shows. They cemented his 00:08:44.710 --> 00:08:47.769 skill in crafting stories that were funny, engaging, 00:08:48.149 --> 00:08:51.070 and connected with a huge, diverse audience, 00:08:51.429 --> 00:08:54.149 especially audiences looking for, you know, authentic 00:08:54.149 --> 00:08:56.429 portrayals of black family life, young adulthood. 00:08:56.690 --> 00:08:58.649 He was learning to make humor that wasn't just 00:08:58.649 --> 00:09:01.149 funny, but also reflected a specific cultural 00:09:01.149 --> 00:09:03.590 viewpoint. Exactly, making it resonate. And if 00:09:03.590 --> 00:09:06.000 you zoom out, look at the bigger picture. That 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:08.639 whole period was just absolutely critical for 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:10.519 Wilmore's development. It wasn't just about writing 00:09:10.519 --> 00:09:12.399 jokes in a vacuum. No, it was more than that. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:15.340 It was understanding the whole TV comedy machine. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:18.460 Character arcs, plot pacing, the rhythm you need 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:20.379 to keep jokes landing across a whole season. 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:23.350 Building those worlds. building worlds, developing 00:09:23.350 --> 00:09:26.169 characters people cared about, landing punchlines 00:09:26.169 --> 00:09:29.190 within those established formats. This deep dive 00:09:29.190 --> 00:09:32.929 into successful comedy TV, especially shows focused 00:09:32.929 --> 00:09:36.129 on black experiences, was just essential groundwork 00:09:36.129 --> 00:09:38.350 for him becoming a showrunner later. He gave 00:09:38.350 --> 00:09:40.970 him the toolkit. Absolutely. It meant he could 00:09:40.970 --> 00:09:43.429 eventually not just write for shows, but create 00:09:43.429 --> 00:09:45.909 and lead his own acclaimed series. Because he 00:09:45.909 --> 00:09:47.990 knew the scaffolding, the art, and the mechanics 00:09:47.990 --> 00:09:50.870 of building a hit, he got the heartbeat of the 00:09:50.870 --> 00:09:53.909 sitcom. which leads us right into his emergence 00:09:53.909 --> 00:09:57.450 as a creator. This period really cements that 00:09:57.450 --> 00:10:00.470 shift from writer to full -on creative force, 00:10:00.509 --> 00:10:04.490 a real showrunner. 1999, he takes this huge leap, 00:10:05.009 --> 00:10:07.330 co -creates the animated comedy The PJs. With 00:10:07.330 --> 00:10:09.490 Eddie Murphy. With Eddie Murphy. He didn't just 00:10:09.490 --> 00:10:11.250 write for it, he was executive producer until 00:10:11.250 --> 00:10:13.850 it ended in 2001. That's a major step up. Shows 00:10:13.850 --> 00:10:16.529 he can develop, conceptualize, lead a whole series. 00:10:16.730 --> 00:10:18.789 Taking the reins. Yeah. Total command of the 00:10:18.789 --> 00:10:20.710 creative process way beyond just writing scripts. 00:10:20.889 --> 00:10:24.789 And then the Bernie Mac show. Ah, yes. Pivotal. 00:10:25.009 --> 00:10:27.570 Not just pivotal for him, but really a landmark 00:10:27.570 --> 00:10:30.950 in TV comedy. Wilmore creates it. Executive produces 00:10:30.950 --> 00:10:34.279 it. and then wins a primetime Emmy for writing 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:37.159 the pilot episode in 2002. That Emmy win must 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:40.460 have been huge. Huge! A massive validation of 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:43.039 his talent, his vision, but the show's impact. 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:45.620 It went way beyond that one award. It picked 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:49.399 up this incredible list of honors. A Peabody 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:52.820 Award. Peabody is prestigious. Recognizes real 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:56.159 excellence. Exactly. A TCA Award for outstanding 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:58.320 achievement in comedy, a couple of Teen Choice 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:02.580 Awards, an NAACP Image Award, a Humanitas Prize. 00:11:02.940 --> 00:11:05.200 That's for promoting human dignity, right? Yeah, 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:07.980 it shows depth. and a satellite award for best 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:10.899 TV series, musical, or comedy. Wow. That's a 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:13.179 stack of awards. It really underscores the impact. 00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:15.000 The Bernie Mac show wasn't just popular. It was 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:17.659 seen as groundbreaking, respected, comedic art. 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:19.840 And Wilmore did something really innovative with 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:21.960 Bernie Mac breaking the fourth wall. Right. Talking 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:24.000 directly to the camera. But not just for quick 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.139 jokes. It was to let us into his character's 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:29.340 head. That sort of exasperated, vulnerable, deeply 00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:32.240 human inner monologue of this black patriarch 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:34.419 trying to handle family life. It felt really 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:38.080 raw and honest. Totally. That device gave this 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:41.500 unvarnished look at black family dynamics, mixing 00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:44.460 the humor with this incredible honesty. Critics 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:47.840 loved it. Audiences loved it. It just elevated 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:51.379 Wilmore's status. Creative visionary. Proved 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:53.860 he could entertain and push comedy boundaries 00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:56.299 to get at deeper truths. And his momentum just 00:11:56.299 --> 00:11:59.240 kept going. Wow. He also teamed up with Whoopi 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:02.039 Goldberg. The legend herself. Created and produced 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:05.500 her sitcom, Whoopi. another huge name on his 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:08.159 collaboration list, shows he can work with and 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:10.500 build projects around these established comedy 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:13.139 giants. Definitely. And we absolutely cannot 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:15.879 forget his role as a consulting producer on the 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:17.919 American version of The Office. Oh, right. From 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.919 2005 to 2007. Yeah, during that time when the 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:22.500 show was really finding its footing, becoming 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:24.279 that cultural giant. And what's really telling 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:26.600 is he also appeared in that classic Diversity 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:29.470 Day episode. As Mr. Brown. the diversity consultant. 00:12:29.649 --> 00:12:31.730 I remember him. Exactly. And it wasn't just a 00:12:31.730 --> 00:12:34.230 quick acting part. It gave the subtle but really 00:12:34.230 --> 00:12:37.090 potent glimpse into his comedic take on race 00:12:37.090 --> 00:12:40.070 and culture, even before he had his own big platforms 00:12:40.070 --> 00:12:43.250 to explore it explicitly. How so? Well, his character, 00:12:43.330 --> 00:12:45.470 Mr. Brown, has the sort of awkward sincerity 00:12:45.470 --> 00:12:47.590 that kind of satirizes how corporations handle 00:12:47.590 --> 00:12:50.549 diversity, right? But it still engages with the 00:12:50.549 --> 00:12:53.269 topic. It showed his voice. Even just consulting 00:12:53.269 --> 00:12:55.850 and doing a guest spot was already shaping that 00:12:55.850 --> 00:12:58.279 kind of sharp observational humor. that social 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:00.919 critique that later became his signature. Cutting 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:03.100 to the uncomfortable truth with a smile almost. 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:05.620 Yeah, very disarming approach. So looking back 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:09.440 at that whole stretch, late 90s through mid 2000s, 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:13.139 what's the big takeaway about Wilmore's career 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:16.159 path? It just definitively cemented him as this 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:18.899 creative powerhouse, not just in Hollywood, but 00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:21.460 as a significant cultural voice. No longer just 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:24.159 a writer. not just a writer, a true creative 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:26.580 force, able to conceptualize, lead, shape entire 00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:29.159 comedic worlds that won awards and really connected 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:31.720 with people. He had arrived, master of the craft 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:33.879 and the business side of TV. Okay, so now we 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:36.600 shift from the guy powerfully pulling strings 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:40.019 behind the scenes to Larry Wilmore stepping right 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:42.960 into the national spotlight as a performer. where 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.679 a lot of us probably first really noticed him. 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:48.360 Yeah, The Daily Show. Exactly. That move happened 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:50.559 with his regular, really impactful appearances 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:53.539 on Comedy Central's The Daily Show. From 2006 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:57.360 up to 2014, he became this familiar, often beloved 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:00.379 face doing their signature satirical news thing. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:03.139 It was the perfect stage for his kind of humor. 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:05.799 And what's so great is not just that he was there, 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:08.440 but the impact and the self -aware humor baked 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:11.519 right into his official title. The senior black 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:14.039 correspondent. Right. But even that changed, 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:16.480 didn't it? After Obama's election, it would sometimes 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:19.080 become like the senior executive commander in 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:20.820 chief who happens to be black correspondent. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:23.259 Which is hilarious. in itself. It is. The title 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:26.000 alone was this brilliant piece of satire. It 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.120 immediately flagged his unique perspective, right? 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:30.620 Positioning him as the designated, maybe slightly 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:33.080 eye -rolling voice on issues around the Black 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:35.139 experience. But also kind of poking fun at the 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:37.539 media. Exactly. Poking fun at how media tends 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:40.039 to pigeonhole people based on identity. It was 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:42.940 clever, subversive. Right away, it signaled his 00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:45.659 whole approach to commentary, using humor to 00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:47.779 point out these deeper societal things. And his 00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:51.049 delivery was often so deadpan. That deadpan delivery 00:14:51.049 --> 00:14:54.690 was key, created this fantastic contrast with 00:14:54.690 --> 00:14:57.669 the often absurd or just plain uncomfortable 00:14:57.669 --> 00:15:00.029 truths he was laying out. And his segments weren't 00:15:00.029 --> 00:15:02.149 just general commentary, they were often really 00:15:02.149 --> 00:15:06.750 focused on humorous but also quite piercing observations 00:15:06.750 --> 00:15:08.789 about being black in America. Yeah, tackling 00:15:08.789 --> 00:15:11.070 sensitive stuff. Yeah, he wasn't afraid, did 00:15:11.070 --> 00:15:14.669 it with wit, intelligence, often used that intellectual 00:15:14.669 --> 00:15:17.509 distance to highlight the absurdities like... 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:19.480 Remember that phrase he coined? I'd rather we 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:21.779 got casinos. Oh, yeah, from that segment back 00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:25.080 in, what, January 2007? That's the one. And it 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:27.620 wasn't just a throwaway line. It stuck, became 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:30.120 the title of his political humor book in 2009. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:32.360 Right, I remember that book. And Bookless described 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:34.700 it perfectly, called it like a faux collection 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:37.480 of articles, essays, exploring the more ludicrous 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:40.320 angles on race. That captures his blend of funny 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:43.120 and sharp critique so well. Taking a specific 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.960 observation and making it speak to something 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:48.049 bigger. Exactly, making it resonate. So this 00:15:48.049 --> 00:15:51.350 really brings up a crucial question for us. How 00:15:51.350 --> 00:15:54.309 did playing that role on The Daily Show, the 00:15:54.309 --> 00:15:57.450 senior black correspondent, set him up for the 00:15:57.450 --> 00:15:59.690 huge challenge of hosting his own late night 00:15:59.690 --> 00:16:02.090 show? Yeah, that's a big leap. Those eight years 00:16:02.090 --> 00:16:04.269 as a correspondent, it was like a master class. 00:16:04.990 --> 00:16:07.950 Developing, refining his unique voice for political 00:16:07.950 --> 00:16:11.580 and cultural satire. He learned how to take these 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:14.580 super complex social issues. And boil them down. 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:17.639 Boil them down into concise, funny, digestible 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:20.360 bits. He perfected that deadpan wit, talking 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:22.480 straight to the camera, creating that connection 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:24.759 with the audience. That sense of shared understanding. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:27.799 Yeah, and the rhetorical questions, the understated 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:31.039 punchlines, holding onto an ironic idea. That 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:33.279 mix of humor and critique delivered nightly on 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:35.559 The Daily Show was a perfect training ground. 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:38.179 Forging the host he would become. Absolutely. 00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:40.559 It let him shift from just reacting to the news 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:43.379 to actually shaping the conversation. He was 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:45.620 ready to lead a show with his unique point of 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:48.000 view. Which he then did. Building right on that 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:50.759 foundation, he takes the massive step into the 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:53.440 host's chair. The nightly show with Larry Wilmore. 00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:57.799 January 19, 2015. Launches then. Takes over that 00:16:57.799 --> 00:17:03.159 huge 11 .30 PM slide. on Comedy Central, right 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:06.839 after the Colbert Report ended. Huge. And it 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.019 wasn't just a random new show, it was explicitly 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:12.519 a daily show spinoff. Produced by John Stewart's 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:15.990 company. Buzz Boy productions. So that strong 00:17:15.990 --> 00:17:18.430 link to that whole influential comedy family 00:17:18.430 --> 00:17:20.670 was right there. Inheriting a legacy, really. 00:17:20.910 --> 00:17:23.289 Definitely. Not just the time slot. And the format 00:17:23.289 --> 00:17:25.349 of the nightly show, it was different from Colbert's 00:17:25.349 --> 00:17:26.970 single character thing. It was a panel talk show, 00:17:26.970 --> 00:17:28.829 right? Yeah. Often had multiple guests, different 00:17:28.829 --> 00:17:31.769 backgrounds. Allowed for more, maybe more nuanced. 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:34.220 discussion of issues. And him taking that slot, 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:36.019 I mean, that was significant, not just for him, 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:39.140 but for diversity and late night overall. A black 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:42.059 host heading up a major satire show when that 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:44.400 was still pretty rare. It was a statement. It 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:47.819 absolutely was. The show ran for 259 episodes, 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:51.259 then got canceled August 15, 2016. Relatively 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:53.339 short run in that tough late night world. Yeah, 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:56.319 it's a brutal landscape. But its impact was recognized. 00:17:56.650 --> 00:18:00.890 got nominated for two NAACP Image Awards in 2016 00:18:00.890 --> 00:18:04.509 outstanding talk series, outstanding host. So 00:18:04.509 --> 00:18:06.730 even though it didn't last forever, people saw 00:18:06.730 --> 00:18:09.829 its value, saw Wilmore's distinct presence. He 00:18:09.829 --> 00:18:12.130 was trying something different. Genuinely different 00:18:12.130 --> 00:18:14.750 in a very crowded field. And even after the nightly 00:18:14.750 --> 00:18:17.109 show, he stayed in the late night game, just 00:18:17.109 --> 00:18:19.769 in a more limited way, hosted that short series 00:18:19.769 --> 00:18:22.660 on Peacock. just called Wilmore. Right, adapting 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:25.359 to streaming as things shifted. Shows his flexibility. 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:27.380 And if you look at his hosting style, the themes 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:29.619 across those shows, Knightly Wilmore, you see 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:32.380 this really consistent, kind of fearless thread. 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:34.779 Like what? Like how he just kept weaving in observations 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:37.980 about race, religion, sex, tackling subjects 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:40.240 other hosts might avoid. Yeah, he didn't shy 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:42.410 away. Not at all. And that wasn't new for him 00:18:42.410 --> 00:18:45.130 either. He'd already dug into those complex, 00:18:45.450 --> 00:18:48.509 often tricky themes in his 2012 Showtime special 00:18:48.509 --> 00:18:52.230 Race, Religion and Sex, which, fascinatingly, 00:18:52.230 --> 00:18:54.289 was shot in Salt Lake City. Interesting choice 00:18:54.289 --> 00:18:57.150 of location for that. Right. So his hosting gigs 00:18:57.150 --> 00:19:00.269 let him bring that well -honed, multifaceted 00:19:00.269 --> 00:19:03.890 perspective to a regular audience, sparking discussions 00:19:03.890 --> 00:19:07.009 that were timely but also deeply personal, always 00:19:07.009 --> 00:19:09.670 challenging viewers to think, using humor as 00:19:09.670 --> 00:19:12.650 the way in. Using the platform to start conversations, 00:19:13.089 --> 00:19:16.289 not just tell jokes. Exactly that. Now, probably 00:19:16.289 --> 00:19:18.529 one of the most high profile, and let's be honest, 00:19:19.009 --> 00:19:20.490 provocative moments for him in the spotlight, 00:19:21.069 --> 00:19:23.029 was headlining the White House Correspondents' 00:19:23.210 --> 00:19:26.509 Dinner, April 30, 2016. Oh, yeah. That dinner 00:19:26.509 --> 00:19:28.829 is always under a microscope. Totally. The whole 00:19:28.829 --> 00:19:31.150 country, especially the political and media world, 00:19:31.470 --> 00:19:34.289 is watching, judging every single joke the comedian 00:19:34.289 --> 00:19:37.009 makes about the president, the press, DC culture. 00:19:37.289 --> 00:19:39.329 It's pressure cooker. And that particular dinner 00:19:39.329 --> 00:19:41.490 definitely became controversial. It's specifically 00:19:41.490 --> 00:19:43.950 because of his use of, well, a very charged word. 00:19:44.549 --> 00:19:46.490 Wilmore got a lot of heat for using the N -word, 00:19:46.609 --> 00:19:49.029 specifically the gut ending when talking to President 00:19:49.029 --> 00:19:51.369 Obama. He said, Barry, you did it, my nigga. 00:19:51.490 --> 00:19:54.430 Yeah, that line caused an immediate stir. Huge 00:19:54.430 --> 00:19:57.009 stir. Widely reported, intensely debated. You 00:19:57.009 --> 00:19:59.349 had pieces in the Washington Post, Detroit Free 00:19:59.349 --> 00:20:02.269 Press, all covering the backlash, using that 00:20:02.269 --> 00:20:04.589 word especially there in front of that specific 00:20:04.589 --> 00:20:07.140 audience and the president. A lot of people saw 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:09.819 it as shocking, crossing a line, inappropriate. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:13.200 But crucially, our source material also gives 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:16.779 us Wilmore's side of it, his defense, which is 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:18.960 really important context here. Absolutely. He 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.599 talked about it with Al Sharpton afterwards, 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:23.799 and he said, basically, I wanted to make a statement 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:26.500 more than a joke. He said, I really wanted to 00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:28.660 explain the historical implications of the Obama 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:31.019 presidency from my point of view. So not just 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:33.759 for shock value or even just a joke in his telling. 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:36.279 Right. He framed it as deliberate commentary, 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:39.779 an attempt to capture that complex mix of pride, 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:42.720 familiarity, maybe that sense of shared achievement 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:45.140 that many in the black community felt about Obama's 00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:47.759 presidency. Using language that, you know, within 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:50.900 certain contexts carries a specific kind of affectionate 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:53.299 communal meaning. Which brings us to this incredibly 00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:56.359 complex question, doesn't it? About comedy's 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:59.160 role in commentary, about language, boundaries, 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:02.799 public discourse, especially in a setting like 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:05.380 that. Yes, thorny. And without taking a stance 00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:07.579 on whether it was right or wrong, we have to 00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:10.720 consider the implications. His choice, his stated 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:14.599 reason, was it a calculated move to spark a difficult, 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:17.400 maybe uncomfortable conversation about race, 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:20.519 power, how language works? Or was it a miscalculation? 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.960 Did the word itself, regardless of intent, just 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:24.759 overshadow everything else and turn people off? 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:27.420 Exactly. His choice, his explanation. It forces 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:30.099 you to think about the power of words, the specific 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:32.880 cultural context, how different people hear and 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:35.950 interpret language, it really highlights how 00:21:35.950 --> 00:21:38.890 one moment in comedy can encapsulate these huge 00:21:38.890 --> 00:21:42.109 societal tensions, identity politics, debates 00:21:42.109 --> 00:21:43.950 about who gets to say what. It leaves you thinking 00:21:43.950 --> 00:21:46.589 about the complexity of that single moment. Unforgettable, 00:21:46.750 --> 00:21:48.829 really. Definitely unforgettable. A major moment 00:21:48.829 --> 00:21:51.670 in comedy history, for better or worse. So even 00:21:51.670 --> 00:21:53.630 while Larry Wilmore was stepping out front as 00:21:53.630 --> 00:21:56.549 a correspondent and host, he never really left 00:21:56.549 --> 00:21:59.349 his roots behind the camera. That influence as 00:21:59.349 --> 00:22:02.509 a producer, a co -creator, just kept going. Shows 00:22:02.509 --> 00:22:05.230 his lasting impact on shaping TV, even after 00:22:05.230 --> 00:22:07.670 his own late night shows ended. Still a major 00:22:07.670 --> 00:22:09.430 player behind the scenes. Totally. Like he was 00:22:09.430 --> 00:22:12.470 an executive producer for Black -ish on ABC from 00:22:12.470 --> 00:22:15.410 2014 to 2015. Right. Another connection to those 00:22:15.410 --> 00:22:17.509 groundbreaking shows about contemporary black 00:22:17.509 --> 00:22:20.450 family life. Smart, funny stuff. Exactly. And 00:22:20.450 --> 00:22:22.730 that role with Black -ish was really just a warm 00:22:22.730 --> 00:22:25.150 up for another absolutely huge, really influential 00:22:25.150 --> 00:22:28.470 contribution. Co -creating, writing. and executive 00:22:28.470 --> 00:22:31.990 producing, Insecure for HBO. Insecure, debuted 00:22:31.990 --> 00:22:34.930 in 2016, just massive. Massive, co -created with 00:22:34.930 --> 00:22:37.769 the brilliant Yserae. Its impact was just immediate, 00:22:38.089 --> 00:22:39.990 profound, kind of defined a whole new wave on 00:22:39.990 --> 00:22:42.509 TV. It felt so fresh. Totally fresh, got tons 00:22:42.509 --> 00:22:45.289 of recognition, NAACP Image Award nominations 00:22:45.289 --> 00:22:48.369 in 2017 for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding 00:22:48.369 --> 00:22:51.470 Writing, MTV Movie and TV Award Nom for Show 00:22:51.470 --> 00:22:54.160 of the Year. Deservedly so. It was praised everywhere 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:57.539 for being so authentic, funny, relatable, showing 00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:59.819 the everyday lives of modern black women dealing 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:03.220 with careers, friends, relationships in LA. Wilmore 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:05.539 being involved made sure it kept that sharp comedy 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:08.619 edge while diving into really culturally significant 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:10.359 themes. It showed he still had his finger on 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:12.839 the pulse. Absolutely. His relevance, his eye 00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:15.680 for culturally important TV that audiences were 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:18.680 hungry for, especially those looking for a real 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:21.039 nuanced representation that was often missing 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.779 elsewhere. It wasn't just a hit show. It was 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:27.369 like a cultural landmark. redefined comedic storytelling. 00:23:27.670 --> 00:23:29.069 And he stayed involved in that universe too, 00:23:29.190 --> 00:23:31.170 right, with Grown -ish? Yeah, the Black -ish 00:23:31.170 --> 00:23:33.150 spinoff. He was a writer and co -creator for 00:23:33.150 --> 00:23:36.509 that too, running from 2018 to 2024. So continuing 00:23:36.509 --> 00:23:39.269 to develop stories about young Black Americans 00:23:39.269 --> 00:23:43.369 figuring out adulthood, college, identity, extending 00:23:43.369 --> 00:23:45.839 that comedic and cultural legacy. And what's 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:47.799 so striking when you look at all these projects, 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:51.220 blackish, insecure, groanish, is how Wilmore 00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:54.380 consistently throws his comedic talent and cultural 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:56.940 insight behind stuff that doesn't just entertain. 00:23:57.299 --> 00:24:00.259 It actively pushes boundaries, offers diverse, 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:03.319 often ignored perspectives. He seems drawn to 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:05.380 those kinds of stories. Seems intentional, right? 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:07.640 Whether it's family dynamics, millennial struggles, 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:11.259 coming of age. He chooses or helps create shows 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:14.339 that tackle contemporary issues with depth, humor, 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:17.250 and real understanding of specific cultural experiences, 00:24:17.730 --> 00:24:19.809 and they consistently get awards for it. Shows 00:24:19.809 --> 00:24:22.789 this clear drive to use his skills to shape meaningful 00:24:22.789 --> 00:24:25.130 narratives. Yeah, narratives that are fun and 00:24:25.130 --> 00:24:27.210 culturally resonant. He really understands the 00:24:27.210 --> 00:24:29.710 evolving PV landscape and what audiences want 00:24:29.710 --> 00:24:32.789 more authentic, reflective stories. And he knows 00:24:32.789 --> 00:24:35.049 how to find and nurture the talent, like Issa 00:24:35.049 --> 00:24:37.769 Rae, who can tell them. So as that media landscape 00:24:37.769 --> 00:24:40.589 kept changing, shifting, Larry Wilmore... always 00:24:40.589 --> 00:24:42.849 adaptable, moves smoothly into the audio world, 00:24:43.289 --> 00:24:45.289 embraces podcasting, which was relatively new 00:24:45.289 --> 00:24:47.910 for his voice back then. Right, in May 2017. 00:24:48.309 --> 00:24:51.829 He launches his podcast, Larry Wilmore, Black 00:24:51.829 --> 00:24:54.519 on the Air, part of the Ringer network. Which 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:56.660 was a smart move, joining an established network. 00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:59.000 Definitely. And it showed he was willing to explore 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:02.319 these new ways to connect with people, deliver 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:04.700 his commentary. And the podcast itself, Black 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.380 on the Air, it feels like such a natural fit 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:08.619 for him, doesn't it? The format, the content. 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:10.680 Totally. What's the setup like? Well, he dives 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:13.539 into current events, giving his usual nuanced 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:15.720 take. And he does these really insightful interviews 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:18.660 with all sorts of interesting guests, politicians, 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:21.539 journalists, artists, other comedians. So a mix 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:24.279 of commentary and conversation. Exactly. And 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:27.740 this audio -only format gives him a kind of freedom, 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:31.400 maybe. Freedom from TV cameras, tight time slots, 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:34.680 the intense glare of live events. He can go deeper, 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:37.039 have longer, more reflective conversations. Or 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:39.519 room to breathe, maybe. Yeah, and it worked. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:42.440 Its success was pretty immediate. Time magazine, 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:44.779 you know, pretty respected critics over there. 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:47.880 They ranked it in the top five of their 10 best 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:50.920 podcasts list for 2017. Wow, top five right out 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:53.730 of the gate. Yeah. It just underlines how well 00:25:53.730 --> 00:25:56.930 his voice, his insights, translate. He connects 00:25:56.930 --> 00:25:59.309 with audiences and delivers compelling, smart 00:25:59.309 --> 00:26:02.769 content across totally different platforms. Proves 00:26:02.769 --> 00:26:05.269 his style works just as powerfully in that intimate 00:26:05.269 --> 00:26:08.130 audio space. He found another great avenue for 00:26:08.130 --> 00:26:10.730 his unique way of engaging. Definitely. Vital 00:26:10.730 --> 00:26:13.009 space. So thinking about his whole career arc, 00:26:13.150 --> 00:26:15.210 it makes sense to look at his comedic influences, 00:26:15.609 --> 00:26:17.670 too. They kind of give you a window into how 00:26:17.670 --> 00:26:19.970 his own style was built. Yeah, who shaped him? 00:26:20.269 --> 00:26:22.470 Well, he's mentioned legends like Johnny Carson. 00:26:22.809 --> 00:26:25.710 Carson, the king of cool, calm delivery, master 00:26:25.710 --> 00:26:27.849 of the late night states. Exactly. Then there's 00:26:27.849 --> 00:26:30.849 Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. Oh, boundary 00:26:30.849 --> 00:26:34.710 pushers, fearless standup, tackling race, class, 00:26:35.230 --> 00:26:38.190 sex head on. Change the game. Totally unvarnished 00:26:38.190 --> 00:26:40.950 honesty. And then, of course, Jon Stewart, his 00:26:40.950 --> 00:26:43.730 colleague, his mentor from The Daily Show. Stewart, 00:26:43.930 --> 00:26:46.859 yeah. the master of satirical news commentary, 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:49.960 blending humor and sharp political insight seamlessly. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:52.559 So you have those four major influences. And 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:55.059 you can really see bits and pieces of all of 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:57.900 them in Wilmore's work, can't you? From Carson, 00:26:58.200 --> 00:27:01.240 maybe that composed, often deadpan hosting style, 00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:04.319 lets the humor land with that subtle smart punch. 00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:07.079 Yeah, I see that. From Pryor and Murphy, definitely 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:09.059 that fearlessness, tackling the tough stuff, 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:12.019 race, religion, sex, with both irreverence but 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:14.759 also real honesty. not afraid of making people 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:18.319 uncomfortable. And from Stewart, obviously that 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:20.900 skill in pulling truth and humor out of the news 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:24.220 cycle, crafting that sharp satirical commentary 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:26.259 on what's happening right now. So he's like a 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:29.059 blend. Synthesizing those traditions. A true 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:31.500 synthesis, yeah. Taking what worked for him from 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:33.759 each and making his own unique mix. And it's 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.579 also super telling, I think, that he says he 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:38.319 finds inspiration just watching real human behavior 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:41.200 on the subway, in coffee shops. Not just from 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:43.180 the headlines. Right. It points to how grounded 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:45.420 his comedy is, observational. Believing that 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:47.599 the biggest insights often hide in the smallest, 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:49.819 most ordinary moments. That's a direct line back 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:51.500 to those observational greats who influenced 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:54.920 him. And just as a final nod to his overall impact, 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:58.480 beyond specific shows, Yeah. He got that Austin 00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:01.160 Film Festival Award in 2018 for extraordinary 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:03.279 contribution to television. That's a big one. 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:06.099 Lifetime achievement territory. Exactly. It shows 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:09.240 he's recognized not just for hits, but for his 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:11.779 sustained deep influence on the whole medium, 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:14.859 pushing boundaries, starting conversations for 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:17.220 decades. A career dedicated to that. Definitely. 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:19.019 And if we quickly touch on his personal life 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:21.779 again, just connecting the dots, his 20 year 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:24.759 marriage to actress Leilani Jones. They had two 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:27.740 kids, John and Lauren. that provided a base during 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:30.380 his big rise behind the scenes. Then his divorce 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:32.920 in 2015, moving from California to New York for 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:35.559 The Nightly Show, that lines up with this very 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:38.660 public, very demanding phase of his career. A 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:40.299 lot of upheaval personally and professionally 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:42.240 at the same time. Yeah. And while the sources 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:44.680 don't spell out exactly how those personal things 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:47.380 directly fueled his work, you know, major life 00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:49.779 changes, divorce, moving, starting a new chapter, 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:52.160 they often do feed an artist's work. Sure, adds 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:55.119 layers. Adds layers of vulnerability, maybe resilience, 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:57.200 a different perspective. Even if it's channeled 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.900 indirectly into his commentary or creativity, 00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:01.579 it can add that depth, that authenticity makes 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:03.980 his voice even more relatable. So, OK, if we 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:07.299 pull way back, connect all these threads, Larry 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:10.000 Wilmore's whole career... It just shows this 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:14.079 consistent, unbroken line of insightful, often 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:16.759 satirical, always thought -provoking commentary. 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:18.819 Yeah, a clear through line. Whether he's talking 00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:21.839 race, politics, pop culture, he comes at it with 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:25.180 this distinctive voice. Smart, sharp, and undeniably 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:28.759 funny. A true master, moving between roles, but 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:31.460 keeping that singular vision. Hashtag tag tag 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:33.789 outro. So as we kind of wrap up this deep dive, 00:29:33.890 --> 00:29:35.789 let's just take a beat to recap the incredible 00:29:35.789 --> 00:29:37.890 range of Larry Willmore's career. It's really 00:29:37.890 --> 00:29:39.569 something. He really is. We've watched him go 00:29:39.569 --> 00:29:42.690 from this self -described nerd in Pomona to being 00:29:42.690 --> 00:29:45.029 a prolific writer, an Emmy -winning creator who 00:29:45.029 --> 00:29:47.369 changed sitcoms, a groundbreaking correspondent 00:29:47.369 --> 00:29:49.990 challenging norms, a late night host who wasn't 00:29:49.990 --> 00:29:53.009 afraid to say the uncomfortable stuff, and now 00:29:53.009 --> 00:29:55.569 this influential podcast voice. Quite the journey. 00:29:55.789 --> 00:29:58.930 His whole path is just marked by this unwavering 00:29:58.930 --> 00:30:03.049 commitment to insightful, often provocative humor, 00:30:03.529 --> 00:30:05.289 the kind that makes you think just as hard as 00:30:05.289 --> 00:30:07.509 it makes you laugh. He really shows the power 00:30:07.509 --> 00:30:09.529 of having a unique perspective. And his unique 00:30:09.529 --> 00:30:13.670 contribution to modern comedy, to social commentary, 00:30:13.670 --> 00:30:17.109 it's just undeniable. Larry Wilmore has this 00:30:17.109 --> 00:30:20.730 rare gift, doesn't he? Tackling complex, touchy 00:30:20.730 --> 00:30:23.269 subjects with both incredible nuance and sharp 00:30:23.269 --> 00:30:26.650 wit. It's a balancing act. balancing act. He 00:30:26.650 --> 00:30:29.369 consistently challenges norms, pushes boundaries 00:30:29.369 --> 00:30:31.809 on what we expect from public discussion. His 00:30:31.809 --> 00:30:34.450 career really shows how one person can not only 00:30:34.450 --> 00:30:36.589 shift seamlessly between all these creative roles, 00:30:36.650 --> 00:30:39.069 writing, producing, performing, hosting, but 00:30:39.069 --> 00:30:41.990 also leave this lasting, deep mark on so many 00:30:41.990 --> 00:30:44.670 platforms. It makes each medium richer. Exactly. 00:30:44.910 --> 00:30:47.069 It enriches each medium with his particular view, 00:30:47.250 --> 00:30:49.509 showing how powerful a consistent, authentic 00:30:49.509 --> 00:30:52.410 voice can be, even as the media world keeps changing 00:30:52.410 --> 00:30:55.200 around us. Okay, so we'll leave you. with this 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:57.799 final thought to chew on. Given Wilmore's amazing 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:59.640 track record for kind of centering and shaping 00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:02.299 the cultural conversation, and his really successful 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:05.859 move into podcasting, what's next? Mm, good question. 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:08.779 What new conversations, what new comedic forms 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:11.279 might he pioneer? And maybe more broadly, what 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:13.920 lessons about being adaptable, about keeping 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:16.359 your voice strong and true in this ever -changing 00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:18.980 media world, and about the real power of smart 00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:22.440 humor? What can we take away from his truly remarkable 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:25.230 journey? Lots to think about there. Definitely. 00:31:25.589 --> 00:31:26.630 Thanks for diving deep with us today.